Crown block for derricks



May 1928@ L. J. BLACK CROWN BLOCK FOR 'DERRICKS Filed May l4.' 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 3& 3/

7 7 z w u www w J W L May 192&

` L. J. BLACK CROWN BLOCK FOR DERRICKS File d a 14. 1927 2 Sheets-Shee'. 2

Otto! nn' Patented May l, 1928.

m J'. suck, or mmom,-rxas.

cowi nLocx ron 13233101::.

Application ea` n 14;

This invention relates to crown blocks for' derrioks and more particularly :to thecrown blocks of. the derrcks of oil 'well drilling apparatus.

n important object of the invention s to roduce a device of this character which wil permit the travellin block'of .the derrick to be moved much c oser to 'the crown block than is possible with the ordinary construction, due to the fact that the various sheaves in the ordinary 'construction are' arranged upon different shafts and accordingly the cable runs from these 'sheaves are so .widely separated that they bind upon the block after it reaches a predetermined height. 4

A further object of the invention is to provide a Construction such that the ordinary cat and hand line sheave provided may" be conveniently mounted -upon a portion of the s'heave mounting for ;the main crown block sheave and in such position that the line assed thereover will 'not in any way interier with the operation of the trave1- ling block.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a vcrown block structure so formed that it may be very readily assembled upon the top of the derrick; It is pointed out that the assembly ofthe crown block structure is ordinarily a diflicult and dan' erous operation. The top of an oil well drlling derrick is usually one hundred and twenty-five feet 'from the round' and the only support for elements the crown block which are being moved upwardly. for positioningat the top of the derrick are a gin pole and hand or' cat line. In the 'ordinary construction, 'a

relatively he'av "fr-ame structure is' neces-' sary, which su stantially covers the entire top of the derrick and this structure' is .ac-

' cordingly very diflicul't to install in position'. i u

A further object of 'thei'nventionis to provide a crown block structure permitting lubrication ofvthe main sheaves from the 'floor of the 'de rrick, thus elihinating the;

necessity of a; workman climbing to the to of the derrick atintervals to perform ths operation.` i

These and other objects I attam bythe construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the iurpose'of illustration s shown apreferre embodiment of minvention and 'wherenz-- igure 1 is a vertical sectonal view 1987. serial I& 191,&56. i

the supportin structure showingthe means for holding t e bea's in s aced relation;

Fgure 4 is a section ont F ure 3; 4 i

f igure 5 is an enlarged-detail sectional e line 4-.-4-otview showing the washer bars employed for' 7:

'securing the brackets to the side member.

In accordance with' my invention, I proi videa support-ing frame com rising spaced side members 10, each inclu ing a air' of beams 11 (preferably I'beam's) affor ingo I posed channels 12. The beams of each si e member are secured to one another 'and maintained in spaced relation by channel iron-spacers 13, the upper and lowergends of the bases'14 of which are shapedto conform to the arms of the channel 12 and are I provided with lugs 15 extending between adj'acent edges of these arms, so that they are maintained in spaced relation to one another. Bolts 16 extend through the webs 17 of the beams 11 and`the arms 18 of the spacers secure the elements of each side member and aflord a rigid and unitary structure. 4

S'eated upon the upper surface of each side member 'is a trian ular' bracket 19 affording aligned vertica ly spaced and horizontally directed bearin 20 and 21 for the reception of the ends of shafts 22 and. 23.

The'bases 24 of the brackets 19 are apertured for the passa e of securing bolts which are passed t rough these a ertures and throughthe space between a jaceit beams 11, provided by the lugs 15 of the spacers,`

and openings of Washer bars 26, which abut the bottom faces of the beams 11 of the side members andare formed'cent'ally with lugs 27 act-ing to maintain these beams in prop- .er-ly spaced relation. i Upon the shaft 22 between adjacent faces of the brackets 19 are mo'unted a plurality of sheaves 28,- spacer plates 29 ;surrounding the shaft between adjacent sheaves 28 and having at their upper ends' apertures 30 for the passage of the shaft 23. Upon the shaft 23 intermediate .adjacent spacer' plates 29 and intermediate the outermost spacer plates and the brackets are arranged s acer sleeves 31. It will be observed that t e spacer plates and sleeves may be tiedto fonn a very rgd structure and the spacer lates, since they likewise embrace the sha t 22, will serve to rigidly Support this shaft from the shaft 23 and thus reinforce the same. The shaft 23 is -formed ata point spaced from one end thereof with a shoulder 32 adapted to abut the outer face of one of the bearings 21 and at its op osite end is threaded for the reception o securing nuts 33 to insure proper binding together of the brackets, spacer sleeves and plates 30. The extremity of the' first named end of' the shaft 23 provides a mountin for a cat line sheave 33' and is extende suiiiciently that a-line hangng vertically from this sbeave clears the outer face 'of the adjacent side member 10. The shaft 22-is formed at one end with a head 34 and at its opposite end is threaded for the reception of jam nuts 35 whereby this sha/ft may be securely held in position.

In installation of the structure so far described, and after the side members have been installed in position and the brackets 19 Secured thereto the shafts 22 and 23 may have their threacled ends partially' inserted through the bearings and 2 1 and each spacer sleeve 31 and its associated sheave may behoisted to the top of the derrick as a unit and installed in position. With the installation of the final sheave and sleeve, the shafts 22 and 23 are extended through the opposite bearings and Secured in position. It will be seen that since the devi ce may be very readily assenbled in=its comonent parts, there is no necessity for the liandlng of an extremely heavy load at any time during this assembl and accordingly the danger and diiiicu ty of the assembly is materially decreased.

In' order to provide for lubrication of the sheaves 28 without the necessity of an operator climbing to the to ,of the derrick, the shaft 22 is formed wit 1 a bore 36 o ening through the threaded end thereof. he outer. end oftthis bore is threaded for the reception of a plug 37 havin an axialbore forming a bearing for a sha t 38. The opposite end of this shaft is journaled in an v axial bore 39 formed in the opposite end &any other desired 'means are maintained' of the shaft 22. The shaft 38 in alignment with the sheaves 28 is formed with screw sections, the ends of which are ofipositely pitch'ed and have each mounted t ereon a pisten 41, 'These pistons either b frictional engagement with the walls of t e bore o' against rotation as the shaft 38 rotates and will accordingly move toward one another. The bearings 42 arein communication with the space' 43 between the pistons of each screw section through ports 44 formed in the' wall of theshaft' and accordingly if ease is packed in the space 43 and the s aft 38 rotated, this grease will be forced.

by moyement of the istons toward one another throu h the ports 44 and into the bearings 42. has secured thei-eto a small sheave 45 over which is trained a fiexible element 46, the lower end of which extends to the bottom of the derrick.

It will be obvious that by operation of this flexible element, rotation of the shaft 38 may be accom lished and accordingly grease fed to the earings 42' without the immediate attendance of an operator. `It

he outer end of the shaft 38' serves as a reinforcement. for the main sheave shaft and a structure is provided, the operation of which is materially`facilitated. It will also be obvious that the Construction hereinbefore setforth is capable of a certain range of changeand modification without materially departing from the spirit'of the invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereina'fter claimed.

I claim 2-. e 1. In a crown block structure, sidemembers, o posed brackets sup orted thereby and eac aflording a verticafiy ali ed pair of shaft bearin shafts having t air ends engaged in *sai bearings, sheaves mounted upon the lower shaft and meansextending downwardly from the .upper shaft and 'engaging the lower .shaft partitionin said sheaves from one another and provi ing a* 'supporting connection between the upper and lower shafts. v r

2. In a crown block structure, side members, oplposed brackets 'sup rted thereby and eac aflording a verticall; al' ed pair V of shaft bearin s, shafts having t eir ends engaged in sai bearings upon the' lower shaft and downwardly from the upper shaftand en-.

gng the lower shaft' pa'rtitioning said sheaves mounted means extending na v s eaves from one' another and providing a suporting connection` between the upper an lower shafts, the upper shaft having at one end an extension providing 'a mounting for a further sheave. v be3. Ina 'crovri blolktsstructure eidehmemrs, oppose rac e `su t ereb and each afl'ordinga verticffi ali ed pail of shaft bearin' shafts having t ir ends engaged in sa'. bearings, sheaves mounted upon` the lower shaft, means extending down- -wardly from the upper ehaftand engaging the lower shaft partitioni said sheaves from one another and provi ing a supporting connectionbetween the' upper and lower -shafts, said side members each including arallel beams and spacers maintaining adacent edges of the beams in spaced relation to one another, securing elements for said brackets e'xtending through the spaces thus provided and Washer bars at the lower faces of said beams through which' said securing elements extend. i V

4. In a crown block structure, side members, opposed brackets 'supported thereby and each aflording a vertical y ali ed pair of shaft bearings, shafts having t eir ends engaged in` said'bearings, sheaves mounted upon the lower slaft, means extending downwardly from the upper shaft and en aging the lower shaft partitioning said s eaves from one another and providing a supporting connection between the upper and lower shaft having at one end 'an extensi n an a she'verotatably mounted u n sai extension and rotating in a plane ying to one side of the adjacent side member.

6. Ina crown block structure, side members, opposed braekots supported thereby,a pair of vertically aligned aving their ends supported n the brackets, a pluralit of sleaves mounted upon the lower sha t intermediate the brackets, parallel'plates for said sheaves surrounding the lower shaft andsupportedfrom the u per shaft, spacers surrounding the upper s aft between the partiton plates, the upper shaft embodyingmeans for clamping said brackets upon said spacers and parallel plates to rovide a rigid structure, said upper sha t at one end thereof outwardly of the adjacent bracket having mounted thereon a sheave.

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature. LEE J; BLACK arallel shafts i 

